Improvement in car-couplings



E. D. BROWN.

.CAR-COUPLING.

No. 182,017. Patented Sept.12, 1876.

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UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERASMUS D. BROWN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO H. A. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN OAR-COUPLINGS.

S ecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,017, dated September 12, 1676; application filed May 8, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASMUS DARWIN BROWN, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, assignor to myself and Hunloke Abbott Clark, of same place, have made certain Improvements in'Gar-Uouplings, of which the following is a specification This is intended more especially for freight. cars; and the object. of the invention is to provide a combined bufi'er, coupler, and drawhead in one device, and also an uncoupling arrangement connected therewith, all as hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of the bufier and coupling parts; Fig. 2, perspective of the coupling-hooks and draw-bar; Fig. 3,- a bottom plan view; Fig. 4, a plan of the draw-rod 5 Fig. 5, front view of the uncoupling devices.

A indicates the end of the car B, the center cross-piece. O is a draw-bar, working inside a cross-head frame, D; the latter works back and forth on guide-rods a a, with surrounding springs b b, to return the parts to position when forced back or. drawn out. These guide-rods a a may extend the entire length of the car, if desired, so that one set would do for the cross-heads at each end of the car, which would allow both to run on the same guide-rods, both draw-heads pulling from the center. The end of the draw-bar O is constructed with hooks c c, the catching part set in opposite directions and the inclines beveled inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose to be hereinafter mentioned. It has a slanting outward cut in the hook part and a space, d, for the necessary play of the coup-,

ling bar or link E, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) also an opening, 0, in the center of the draw-bar O, to admit the end of the coupling-bar, to hold it in a longitudinal position ready to couple again when the opposite car is disconnected. A circular collar, f, is also formed in this draw-bar, and against which the combined draw-head and bufler G sets, and which is attached to the draw-bar by rivets, pins, or other suitable means. It is made independent as a matter of construction, and also to get at the inside of the draw-head easily, to repair it, if necessary. The mouth of the draw-head is made flaring, as is customary, and has holes, 9, for the admission of the ordinary pin for use with old style of cars when one is to be coupled to'my device. This drawhead acts as a bufierby its connection with the draw-bar and collar f, and the cross-head frame D, running on the guide-rods a a, and is returned to place by the springs b b, while the other springs b I) return the head to position when the drawing force is spent. The hooks c c in opposite cars will be reversed in position to facilitate uncoupling, and the beveled inclines of the hooks is 'to couple and uncouple with greater certainty by turning the draw-bar by the pins h h.

The construction of the coupling-rod E is peculiar: It is a simple round rod, as shown in Fig. 4, having two pins, h h, set at right angles to the main rod at either end. One pin, h, is set a little further from the end of the pin than the other one. This is to leave a sufficient length ofrod to set in the hole e, before described in the draw-bar C. These pins slide up the beveled inclines of the hooks c c, and, passing the apex, sink into the recessed space 01 behind the hooks. Springs 11 t, (see Fig. 1,) are fastened into the draw-bar, so as to cover the space (1 in the hooks, and to keep the pins from being jolted out. The extreme end of the spring is curved, so as not to interfere with the entrance of the pin. The coupling-bar is, of course, reversible, so that it can be held by the long end in either of the draw-heads. The reason that both ends are not made long is, that it may allow of any side-swaying of the cars, or their going on curves, and when the draw-heads are of unequal height. This comprises the buffing and coupling of the cars.

The uncoupling devices are as follows: The buffer-head G and hooks and draw-rod O are set in the frame of the cross-head D, as before described, and turn therein. This is to aid in the uncoupling. Attached to the draw-head G is an arm, It. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) This is set at an angle, as shown. To its end is attached a long spring-rod, l, which, at the point of attachment, forms a knuckle-joint. This rod 1 terminates in a handle at the side of the car, and, when pulled, (by the brakeand slide out ofthat'draw-head, leaving the, coupling-rod in' 'the"op'p osite"head. If it isdesired to keep thecars-uncoupledi they should come together again for the purpose of backing up, the rod Z, .when drawnout, is I set by a notch in it, and a catch attached to the end car, so that if the coupling-rod E enters the head again it will not connect with the-hooks, and w-ill drawout *aga-inwhen the 1 car is started. When the rod l is released: from the catch it throws back the head G, and hooks, &c., in position by means of the spring merits equivalent. Any kind of'spring at tachment will serve for this purpose- If acar should, by; accident, bethrown from the 7 track and should tip,= it. would; at. once uncouple that car;fron1 .thefothers,as it would.

throw the pins Iuh in such; a positionh'assto slide them off the inclines ofrthe hooks c 0.- v

If the opposite car tipped it. would uncouple that car, making theseuncouplers self-work= coupling-rod is displaced from its drawing position. This is'an important feature of my invention. Each spring-rod :Z uncouplesthe opposite car by turning the pinsand coupl-ing-rod'in sucha position 'in the, opposite draw-head as to disengage them from the hooks. The buffer will operate in anyposition, whether turned. or not. a a

The uncoupling devices. are all operated from the outside of the car, orfrom the top,

ifdesired. The, draw-bar- O-iskeptfrom draw ing out ofthe crosshead vframe by a. pimp, or equivalent device, and when the draw-bar turnedby the uncoupling device it can go only so far by reason of stops 8 s fastened to the .end of the cross-head.

The combined bufi'er and 'draw-head maybe constructed-in one piece-with the draw-bar O,

and work in connection with the spring crosshead, and without, the uncoupling device, if desired. This would-make a simple buffer and draw-head, in which could be used the old link and pins.

I claimg 1. The draw-bar and coupling devices consisting of the bar 0, with the hooks 0 c attached thereto, collar f, in combination with the draw-head G and coupling-rod-E'h h, 'as

andf-for'the;purposespecified'.

y 2. Thedraw-headG,draw-hart ,with-hooks 0 o d d,'hole 0-, andzcollar'f, in combination with: th'e-crossmead -D,.working ontwo; guide,-

rods, a a, substantially as specified. I

3. The coupling-rod E,;with.the'pins h. h, in combination'with the beveled'hooks c." c and draw-bar- G, asiand for i the: purpose specified; ing in :case of accident. The car-need-only tip a quarter of'a circleevee less-and the.

4. Theloose draw-ban having the-hooks c'c, arid-turningv in the; frame .D-,. in combine tion with the uncoupling' devices, substantially as specified. p

In witness whereof I, have hereunto signed my. name in'the. presence of twosubscribing .Jmlm 

